[SpicyUme]

Better to keep things running at a low level than fully idle I'd think. Even if the outputs are consumed by testing, development, or even just stockpiled. Lots of things can get lost by not making parts for a while, including the knowledge involved in troubleshooting or replacing parts.

Of course then people would complain about all the money wasted not utilizing the equipment/space enough.

[ElFitz]

Re: NASA chasing around for Saturn V blueprints and the blueprints for the equipment needed to make the actual rocket parts.

[trenchpilgrim]

Also the DoE having to figure out how to make Fogbank again (a classified material used in weapons which they lost the manufacturing documentation for)

[ben_w]

> Of course then people would complain about all the money wasted not utilizing the equipment/space enough.

I think this is why the USA, UK and France are all big exporters in the defence sector.